Tom prepares for Land’s End to John O’Groats cycle to help fight childhood liver disease

Tom Brading from Gosport is busy training for a 900 mile cycle ride. Next month (August 10), he will set off from Land’s End to John O’Groats in a bid to raise £3,000 for Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF).

The charity is an important one to Tom, a 23 year old engineering apprentice with the Ministry of Defence, as his 22 year old girlfriend, Cozette was born with the rare liver disease, biliary atresia and underwent a life-saving liver transplant when she was just two.

“I know that the charity provided invaluable support to Cozette and her family at a really difficult time,” says Tom. “Without the fundraising and support which they gave, things could have gone very differently. I am so lucky to have met her and this might not have been possible if it wasn’t for the work that CLDF do.”

Cycling enthusiast Tom came up with the idea for the challenge with two friends, having done a charity cycle ride two years’ ago.

“We decided to do something that we enjoy while raising money for our chosen charities,” he continues. “Land’s End to John O’Groats will be hardest thing any of us have ever done and we plan to make it an adventure to remember. We will be camping along our route, taking all the kit we require with us on our bikes, and aim to complete the journey in no more than 14 days.”

Alison Taylor, Chief Executive of Children’s Liver Disease Foundation commented: “CLDF is the only UK charity dedicated to fighting all childhood liver diseases, by providing information and emotional support, funds for research and a voice for all those affected. In order to do this however, we rely almost entirely on voluntary donations, so we are delighted to hear about Tom’s cycling challenge. He has set himself a tough target, both in terms of the physical effort and his fundraising, and we wish him all the best. I’ve no doubt it will be a memorable experience and the funds he raises will enable us to continue to make a real difference to families around the UK who are affected by childhood liver disease.”